Twi

Twi is a language spoken in Ghana. It is a member of the Akan language family. Twi is the most widely spoken of the Akan languages, with about 9 million speakers. It is the native language of the Ashanti people and is used as a lingua franca in Ghana. Twi is a tonal language, with two basic tones: high and low. There are also two additional tones, which are used in certain circumstances: the rising tone, which is used for emphasis, and the falling tone, which is used for questions. The Akan language family is thought to have originated in what is now Ivory Coast. Twi is thought to have diverged from the other Akan languages around the 15th century. The Twi language has a rich oral tradition. There are many proverbs and sayings in Twi which are used in everyday life. Twi is written using the Latin alphabet, with some additional characters for tones and other features of the language. There is also a system of Akan braille. The Ashanti people are known for their art, and this is reflected in the Twi language. There is a rich tradition of folk tales and songs in Twi. Twi is also the language of the Ghanaian Akan drums, which are used for communication as well as for music.